Jordan Moves to Strengthen Anti-Terror Laws

Jordanian authorities have added amendments to anti-terrorism legislation in an attempt to curb the flow of Islamic militants to Syria who have joined Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the war-ravaged country.

The draft bill, submitted to parliament on Wednesday, criminalizes acts that disrupt public order and expose the country to acts of aggression. It also makes it illegal to belong or attempt to join a terrorist organization in Jordan or abroad, as well as raising funds that would support terrorist actions.

The amendments call for the death penalty for Jordanians who engage in acts of terrorism that would lead to death, or if explosive materials, biological or chemical substances were used in terrorism activities.

While Jordan endorsed its first anti-terrorism law in 2006 following the November 2005 triple hotel bombings that killed 60 people, the country still faces a dilemma as the war in Syria continues to rage on the its northern border.

Since the beginning of the revolution, 800 Jordanian fighters have joined the ranks of Jabhat al Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, regardless of the differences that have emerged between both of the Al-Qaeda splintered groups, said Hasan Abu Haniyeh, an expert on Islamic groups, based in Amman.

“Jordan remains anxious and it is trying to tighten its grip on jihadists, fearing that they will target the country,” Mr. Haniyeh said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “But the draft bill with its vague definitions could also be used as a guise to crack down on public freedoms.”

Mohammad al-Shalabi, also known as Abu Sayyaf, a Jordanian Salafi leader in the south of the country, criticized the government’s tough amendments.

“It is a message to all the Jihadists in Syria not to think about returning to the country, since they will face the minimum penalty of five- year imprisonment instead of half the sentence,” he said. “We think the law violates the Islamic Sharia and it should not exist. For us, going to Syria is Jihad, for them (government,) it is terrorism.”

The Jordanian measure follows similar moves by the likes of Saudi Arabia and Egypt who have toughened anti-terrorism legislation recently.

“Using the anti-terrorism bills, these countries are also trying to crackdown not only on jihadists but also on the Muslim Brotherhood in the wake of the Arab Spring to prevent them from making political gains. In Jordan, it is gradual step to marginalize the movement,” Mr. Haniyeh said.

A few days ago, an Egyptian court banned Hamas activities in Egypt, while Saudi Arabia designated the brotherhood as a terrorism group.

For its part, the Jordanian government said the new draft bill is not related to the Syrian war, but warned that hardline ideologies, espoused by Jihadists, pose a threat when they spread to civil society.

“Their ideologies could be spread here, they are already on our borders,” said Khaled Kalaldeh, the minister of political and parliamentary affairs. “Authorities are keeping a close tab on them.”

Mr. Haniyeh warned that once the law is enacted, it could back fire.

“Instead of trying to devise rehabilitation programs to integrate jihadists in society in an attempt to deradicalize them, dealing with them in a security minded manner means that they will be open to all alternatives.”